Mechanical toy



s@ l. BERGER MECHANICAL TOY Jan. 13, 1931.

Fied April 15, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 13, 1931. s. 1. BERGER 1,789,095

MECHANICAL TOY 'Fi1ed April 15, 1927 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Jan. k13, 1931 UNITED s'rA'rss s lysates SAMUEL I. BERGER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY MECHANICAL TOY Application led April 15,

My present invention relates to mechanical toys and in its most speciticapplication is intended to provide a ludicrous simulation of Noahs ark, although the novel principles of the toy may be applied for simulating other effects.

It is an object of the invention to provide a mechanical toy of distinctly novel appearance of realistic yet fantastic and comical artion, which can be produced with parts and stampings of the conventional character ordinarily employed for mechanical toys.

A feature of the `invention is to -impart movements to a plurality of figures some of which may be animal figures heads eX- tending outward from corresponding windows in the casing, said heads being prefer# ably caused to nod, while the casing in its entirety is caused to rock. Preferably lthe rocking movement is imparted to the casing by a device intermittently pushing the surface on which the toy rests, the supporting` partof the toy being curved for this purpose.

Another feature is a figure or head operated from the motor by a sharp nodding action and protruding from the top of the casing and preferably associated with a trap door which is alternately raised and lowered by -the movement of the head.

Preferably the various figures or heads and the oscillating or pushing device are all operated from a. single spring motor within the casing. Inl the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of various possible embodiments -of the several features ot the invention. Fig. 1 is a front elevation of thetoy, Fig. 2 is a median vertical sectional view taken longitudinally ot' the toy,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1, 1

F ig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line view taken on line `respectively of the toy, connected by end opening is adapted to be closed bya trap 1927. serial 110.183,978.

Walls 12 and a gable rooi` 13. The side walls have' ja rocker construction at their lower ends, the lower edge of each of said side walls extending along a continuous curve 14 terminating well beyondthe end walls as shown. The device therefor rests upon the table, floor-or other support in the manner of a rocking chair.

Totlre lrear of the front wall is a support rod l carriedin ears 16 struck out from' near the ends'of said side wall. Pivoted upon said rod in side by side relation are a plurality of figure heads 17, preferably animal heads which may be the'fai'niliar inexpensive molded celluloid toys, said heads protruding outward through corresponding windows 1S in the front panel. Midway between the ends of the walls there is pivoted upon a pin 19, supported in an eye 19 in the front panel, atoy human head 20 which inv the illustrated embodiment shown would represent Noah. The head of Noah protrudes upward through a rectangular lopening 21 in one side or' the gable roof which -v door or hatch 22hinged at the ridge 23 of the root and closing upon the head 20.

Thetoy embodies a single spring motor for causing operation of the figures and ci the casing'in its entirety. The motor is preferably supported by a pair of walls 2st extending transversely between the .side walls at a substantial distance from the end walls and. serving thereby to brace the structure. The motor is of substantially con-. ventional construction. lIt is, therefore, briefiy noted merely that this motor com-V prises a spring drum 25 pivoted in the tra-nsverse walls, having its helical spring 26 fixed Y at one end to a gear 27 and at the other to 'a ratchetfwheel 28 cooperating with a. atchet -pawl @29 the iratchet wheel being .turned by a key'SO accessible from 'beyondan end wall 12 and formed as an integral part of the support -rdd/ 31 for spring drum. The gear 27 meshes lwith a pinion 32 'upon a crankshaft 33 havingfbearing supports in the transverse wallsI 2111. and eX- ten'di'ng well'beyond said walls to substanti- "caused to nodsharply by reason of the subvally the end walls 12. The motor has the eye 39 encircling a pin 40 supported'atits` ends in the sides of the animal figure, and to the rear of the support-rod15-V The human figure toy 20 at the roof of the casing is illustratively showin koperated from a sharply eccentric drum 41 fixed upon the crankshaft, -F or this purpose a link 42 is formed with an eye43 encircling-the drum and the other end of said link extends at 45 through a corresponding aperture in theshank 44 of the. figure head2() closely adjacent to the mounting pin 19 therefor. inasmuch as that toy figure 17 which is substantially directly below the Vfigure toy 20 affords insufficientroom for afconvenientcrank throw it is preferred to operate the same by an eccentric drum 46- similar to drum 41. Y Y

At the extremity `of the crankshaft 33, near one of the yend Walls 12,1 provide a crank arm 50 to the end -of which'is pivoted a pusher or oscillating rodjl-extending through a correspondingeye 52 fixed` prefQ erably near the lower edge-of said end Wall 12.

In operation the motor being wound, and

the casing placed upon the floor or table, the

.operation of the motor will' ycause the crankvshaft 33 to turn.

In its rotationv the various crank arms and drum 4G through the associated links 37 will causel the corresponding animal figure heads 17 to nod by pivotal y movement about the common lsupport rod 15, V'the nodding of the various heads being out of synchronism, however, inV view of the fact that the crank arms extend in different planes. Simultaneously withrthe nodding ofthe figures the head 20 of Noah will be stantial eccentricity of thedrum 41 and the juxtaposition of the-end. of the vlink 42 to the mounting pin 19'. The trap door 22 V. willalternately rise and drop with the upward and returnmoveinent of the head 20. At thesame time theinotor will cause the push rod51-to bek reciprocated from crank arm 50 through guide eye -52 and to inter- Thus in operation tlieftoy` produces an effect simulatingzthe sharp rocking or sway-A ing of a ship or ark in a stormy sea, while ithe animal figures nod out of the windows,

and at the same time the figure of Noah or other captain of the ark or ship nods approvingly from the hatch upon his charges. It will thus be seen that there is herein described an article iii which the several features of this invention are embodied, and which article in its action attains the various objects of the invention and is well suited to meet the requirements of practical use.

As many changes could be made in the aboveV constructiom, and many apparently Widely different embodiments of this inventioircould be made without departing from vthe scope thereof, it is intended that all Y matter contained'in the above description oi' shown in the accompanying drawings-i shall be interpreted as illustrative and notr in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Ina mechanical toy the combination of a casing having a curved bottoinupon,which it stands, a motor in saidcasing, a rod op,- erated from said motor and extending. downwardl from near one end of and through said rocking support, means guiding Y said rod for sliding movement thereof in a nearly vertical line whereby the rod is reciprocated to be caused intermittently to be `pushed against the surface on which` the toy rests,

for rocking the same.

2. A mechanical toy comprising side walls and end walls, a top`a `spring motor sustained between said. walls, a pair of vparallel extensions from the sidewalls curved at their bottoms .and constituting a carrying support for the toy, and a downwa 'dly extending rod near one endof the toy 'posi-lY tivelyrreciprocated by said motor, means guiding said Vrod for sliding movement there'- of in a nearly verticalV line`r whereby said rod will intermittently push against the.

surface supporting the toy thereby causing.`

said toy to rock.

3.- mechanical toyzcomprising acasiiig, havingv a pair of side panels each withra lower curved edge, and endwalls connecting y said panels, a' spring motorconfined ,within said casing andarodoscillated by said motor, means. guiding, saidf rod-,for sliding movement thereof in a nearly vertical line whereby the rod will be intermittently pushed from near one end of the casing against the support on which kthe -toy rests, thereby causethe toy to rock.

4. A mechanical toy comprising a casingj oscillatewithin said windows, and a down-A wardly extending rod operated from said motor Vfrom near one end of the casing to intermittently push against the surface upon which the casing rests to effect a rocking movement of the casing.

5. A mechanical toy comprising the combination of a casing having .a pair of sidc walls, a pair of end walls, a rocking support for said casing, a figure toy protruding through an opening in said casing, a spring motor in said casing, linkage connecting said motor. to said toy for effecting systematic movement ofthe latter and a push rod reciprocated from said motor and intermittently pushing from near one end of the casing against the surface on which the toy rests, to cause the latter to rock.

6. A mechanical toy comprising the combination of a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls, the lower edges of said side walis extending in a continuous curve for a rock-l ing support of the casing, toy figures protruding through openings arranged in side by side relation in one side wall of the casing, a figure toy protruding outward from the roof of the casing, a single spring motor in said using, linkage connecting said motor to each of said figures for causing said figures to oscillate, and a downwardly extending push rod operated from said motor to cause the lower end thereof to intermittently engage and push from near one cnd of the casing against the surface supporting the toy, in order to effect a rocking of the casing in its entirety simultaneously with the oscillation of the figures thereof.

7. A mechanical tOy comprising the combination of a wall, a rod extending longitudinally of said wall, a plurality of toy figures pivoted about said rod, each of said figures extending outward from said wall through a corresponding window thereof, a spring motor, a. crank rod operated from said motor and extending generally parallel to said rod, and arms extending from various cranks of said arm and connected to sait figures to cause said figures to oscillate.

8. A mechanical toy comprising the combination of a wall, a support rod extending `longitudinally of said wall, and fixed with tion with relation thereto, a plurality of toy figures pivoted about said rod, each of saidv figures extending outward from said wall through a corresponding window thereof, a spring motor, a crank rod operated from said niotor and extending generally parallel to said support rod, and arms extending from various cranks of said crank rod and connected to said figures to cause the latter to oscillate said cranks being out of phase relaeach other to cause corresponding non-synchronous operation of said figures.

9; A mechanical toy comprising a pair of side walls, a pair of stays firmly connected *transverselyA vacross said side walls, a spring motor s .pportedbetween said stays, a crank shaft having bearings in said stays and extending therebeyond and rotated from said motor, a support rod sustained in fixed relation parallel to said side walls, figure toys bearingupon said support rod and protruding through corresponding windows in one of said side walls, and links connected to the cranks of said crankshaft at one end and to the respective figures at the other end to cause 'the latter to oscillate during the operation of the motor.

l0. A mechanical toy comprising, a wall, a support rod extendingparallel to andV to the rear of said wall, figure toys pivotally supported upon said rodand Vextending outward through corresponding windows in said wall, a spring motor back of said wall, a crankshaft having bearing supports and rotated continuously from said spring motor, transverse rods through the respective figures, and links each connected at one end to a crank of the crankshaftA and atthe other to the cross-rod of the figure toy to cause said gure toys to oscillate during the operation of the motor. i

11. A mechanical toy comprising a cas-V ing having a top,v a trap door at said top, a figure head pivotally mounted below. said ytrap door, a spring motor, a sharply eccentric drumk driven vfrom said spring motor and a strap encircling said drum having a link contiguous-therewith connected to said figure to cause the latter to oscillate sharply during operation of theA motor and by impact with said trap door to cause the latter to. rise and fall simultaneouslyv with the movement of said figure head.

l2. A mechanical toy comprising the combination of side walls and end walls, said side walls each having a continuously curved lower edge'upon which the device is adapted to rock, a spring motor between said side walls, a crankshaft driven therefrom, said shaft terminating near one of said end walls and having a crank arm at the extremity thereof, a downwardly extended rod pivoted to the end of said crank arm, an eye insaid end wall through which said rod extends, whereby said rod in the operation ofxsaid motor will intermittently engage and push against the surface upon which the toy rests,'thereby causing the latter to oscillate. i

13. A mechanical toy comprising the combination of a casing having a pair of side walls, eachjhaving a continuously curved lower edge upon which the device canV rock, a pair of end walls connecting said `side walls, a spring motor supported within said casing, a crankshaft extending longitudinally of. said casing and driven from said g spring motori a toy figure protruding 11p-"2l ward from-'Tsaidcasing midwaybetween theta ends: thereof,y ana eccentricl deviceoii said:

crankshaft and alink connecting said ec-V centric device to said'toy figure to =cause the latter to osciilate, a crank arm at one 5 end oi said crankshaft, areciprocatingirod extending downward r from: the end-.of said crank arm and pivoted thereto, avguide `for preventing lateral displacement of said rod,

said rod intermittently engaging the surfaceupon which Vthe'toy rests, during the operasaid'f-casinlgffand alink 'includingfa strap encircling said drum, said' linkpivotedfaty its-upper end to said figure whereby said figure will oscillate 1 simultaneously :witli-r the: rockingmovement of the toy in its-entirety.

Signed at Newark in the county of Essex and State of'New Jersey this'. 13th day of April, A. D. 192".

SAMUEL I. BERGER.

tion'of the motor and pushing against lthe same -to cause rockingof the toy'. while the figure oscillates.

14; A mechanicaltoyconiprisingfthe com- 15 bination of a casingwhav-ingra pair of'side walls, a pai-rof end walls the lower or'supporting edges-ofsaid side walls having;fcon-V tinuouscurved edges upoir'which the device'.

gjo'uing, including; a crankshaft longitudinally a support rod parallel" to v ofy saidr casing',

said side walls@ figure. toys pivotally mount# ed upon said-rod andprotruding through corresponding windowsinl one oft 'saidsidef :.which the-casing restsfto cause rocking'of the casi-ng 1n 'its' entirety, while; the -gures lto oscillate Vor nod" are causedfsimultaneously throughxthe window;

l5. A mechanical toy coniprisingithe coni-y 401binatiou of a casing: having a pair of side walls, a. pair of end walls, the lower orv supporting edges of'said'side walls having continuouscui'ved edges upon which the'device` may rock, av spring motor within said cas- -ing, including a crankshaft longitudin:illy` of said casing, a support rod lparallel to said side walls,` figure -toyspivotally supported upon said rod andl protruding through corresponding windows in said side V wall, links connectingthe respective figures to corresponding cranks on said crank-arm. said :crankshaft having a crankA arm near the extremity thereof, ak push rod pivoted to Y-saidfcrank4 arm and :extending: downward therefrom, and guide means to. limit the movement of said' puslrrod to substantially a straight line, whereby in operationof the motor'the push rod'will intermittently push against thesupport on which rthecasiiig;E

rests, to cause oscillation or'rocking of thev casing inits entirety while the Iigures are caused simultaneously to oscillate or nod through the window, a sharply eccentric drum between the ends of said rock shaft,` a vfigure head pivoted near the upper end of 

